HKIA Records Solid Growth in August
Hong Kong (HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT) - Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) handled 4.1 million passengers in August, an 8.7% increase from the same period last year. Supported by continuous growth in passenger numbers, aircraft movements grew 3.3%, to 23,800. Cargo throughput maintained its upward trend with total tonnage rising 3.4% from August 2005, to 292,000.
In the past 12 months, passenger throughput grew 8.7%, to 43 million. Cargo throughput and aircraft movements increased 6.6% and 9.6%, respectively, to 3.5 million tonnes and 277,440 movements.
Business aviation has experienced similar, strong growth. To better serve passengers and enhance HKIA's status as a global aviation hub, the Airport Authority today signed an agreement with Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre Limited (BAC) for the construction of a new hangar. Located on a 4,500-square-metre site adjacent to BAC's existing hangar, the new building is almost double the size of the company's current hangar and is able to accommodate large aircraft such as the Boeing 737-800 and Airbus Corporate Jet (ACJ).
The Airport Authority's Commercial Director, Hans Bakker, welcomed the new initiative. He said, "Business aviation is one of the fastest-growing segments at HKIA. In the first six months of 2006, business aircraft movements surged 40% from the same period last year."
BAC will spend about HK$100 million on the new hangar, which is scheduled to open in 2007. The Airport Authority will invest $80 million to expand the nearby apron, a move that will enhance the taxiway to facilitate the efficient movement of aircraft and provide additional parking space for business jets. Construction will take place in phases with taxiway enhancement completed by 2007 and the remaining works by the end of 2008.
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